The 131st birth anniversary of B.R. Ambedkar, Chief Architect of the Indian Constitution, was celebrated here on Thursday.
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The State government had announced that the birth anniversary will be observed as the Day of Equality in the State on April 14 every year during which a pledge would be taken.
Collector S. Karmegam garlanded the statue of Ambedkar near Thongum Poonga. Salem MP S.R. Parthiban, MLA R. Rajendran, Superintendent of Police M. Sree Abhinav, Revenue Divisional Officer Vishnuvardhini and other officials were present. Also, they visited the photo exhibition on the life history of Ambedkar.
Meanwhile, BJP cadre led by its urban district president Suresh Babu, staged a road roko near the statue claiming that police were not permitting them to garland the statue. They said that they were waiting for long hours near the statue and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi was given permission to garland the statue. BJP cadre raised slogans and blocked the road. The police immediately asked them to garland the statue and the protest was withdrawn.
In Erode, functionaries of various political parties garlanded the statue of Ambedkar at Panneerselvam Park. At the Collectorate, District Revenue Officer S. Santhoshini Chandra administered the pledge to government employees during which Personal Assistant to Collector (General) R. Balaji and others were present.